The Dillon tribune., 1887-01-28
Ehe 1Mot, Gubn,,e.
THE RED ACORN.
BY JOHN N'ELEOY,
Author If "AnIcrsonrttie,' Esc
copyrighted by National Tribune Publishing ca.
and published by arrangement with thcm.l

copyrighted by National Tribune Publishing ca
and published by arrangement with ,hcm.l
Harry tool. 10 interest in the relic hunting
but walled onward toward another pro,ni
rence that gavo hopes OF a good view Of TIN
Confelcrates The gliupsss he gained fro:'
this Of tho suraing mass Of fugi.ives iEf1aincs
him with the excitement Of tho chase-of thu
most exciting Of chascs, n man hunt. HI
forgot his fears. forgot how far behind hs
was leaving ali the others, and became cage,
only IN see more Of this fascinating sight.
Before DC was aware Of it, be YVES thrrc OF
four miles from tho gap.
Here q point ran boldly down from the
mountain INTO tho valley, and ended IN a
bare knob that overlooked the narrow creek
bottom, along which tho beaten host was
forging It's way. Harry unhesitatingly de
sceDded TO this. and stood gazing at the
swarming horde below. 1t was a sight to
rivct the attention. Tho narrow level space
through which the creek meandcrcd bet ween
two parallel ranges III heights was crowded
a. far as he could se., with an army which
defeat bad degraded to dcEoralize,l mob.
All scnblancc OF military organization had
wcll.nigh disappeared. Horscmen and foot
men, infantry, cavalry and artillery, officers
and privats. a,nbulances cracking under
their load Of wounded and dying, !onlcrous
artillery FORCES, wagons loaded with food,
wagons loaded with ammunition and wagons
loaded with Injuries for the dclcctation Of
tbs higher ofccrs-all huddled and crowded
together, and struggled forward with fever.
isli haste over the logs, rocks, gullics and the
deep waters OF the swollen stream, and up
it, slippery banks, through the qu;cksands
and Gua.mircs which every passing foot and
wheel beat into a still more gricvo,ls ots,t acIe
for those that followed. Hopelessly tagged
horses fell for tho last time under the merc;.
les blows of their frightened masters, and
added their great bulks to tho inptsliulcnts
At tho road.
Tho mon were suilen and dcprt sscd-c;lst
down by the wretchcdness of earth and sky.
and cs,bittered against their officers and each
other for tho blood us,.lcssly shcd-opprsscd
With hunger and WEAKNESS, and momentarily
fearful! thai new fni1fortunes were about
to descend upon them. In brief, it was one
III tho GndtlCst spcctacles that human history
can present: that Of beaten and disorgun-
lied army In full retreat, and an army 80 new
TO soldiership aud discipline as to be able to
mako nothing but the worst out Of 80 great a
ralamity-it was rout after repr.lsc.
Nearly oil tho passing Thousands wero too
much engrOsscd In tho lniseries of their toll
sono progress to notice tho blue-coatol figure
ON tho b0re knob above the road, But tho
rear OF tho fugitivcs was brought up by a
nQuad or men moving much more leis,lrrly
and son'o show Of order. They did not
plunge into the mass of men and animals and
vehicles, and struggle with them in tho
mornss which the road had now bccorc
but deliberately picked their way along the
slde" OF the valley, where tho walking was
easier. They saw Harry, and understood Us
soon ~ they saw, who he was. Two or three
responded to their first impulse, and raising
heir guns to their shoulders. fired ut him.
A bullet slapped against tho rock upon which
no was partially leaning, and foil at his feet.
announcer Scattered mud In his face, and flew
away, singing vicio,,sly.
AT the reports tho fear-haras,.l mob
shuddcrrd and surged forward through its
entirc length.
Tho companions Of those who fired seemed
TO rcproach them with angry gestures. point.
ing IN tho effect upon tho panicky mass
Then tho wlole SOUND rushed forward toward
the hill.
Deadly fear clutchcl Harry G)en.s hcort
~ tue angry notes Of tho bullets Jared ON
ms senses. Then pride and tho animal in
Minct OF fighting for life famed upward. SO
swiftly That he was scarcely conscious Of |
what he WINS doing no snatcbed u cartridge
from the box, tore its end between his teeth |
AMI ra''inel II homo. lie replaced tho ram.
rod IN It's thilnbcs with ono quick thrust. and !
a. l,o raised hs eyes fron, tho nipple upon
which he had placed tho cap, he saw that tho |!
confederate sound had gained tho foot OF
the Knoll and started up its side. 10 raised
The gun to fire, but rs no did SO he heard a |
voice cal! ont from behind him:
"'Aeet ou'en thar! Skeet ou.cn thar. Come
up hcah. luichH'
Harry looked IN tho direction of the yc;cc
lie saw tail, slender, black haired man
na's'ns IN tho woods ut tho upper edge OF
tho cleared space. l'e was dressed in bn,tcr.
nut jeans, and looked SO much like tho Con-
fesicrates in front that Harry thought la wn,
ono Of them Tho stranger noli,cd his indc,
sasion, and called out again stiil more ,xr.
smptorly:
Sheet out"n thar, tell yc! Skect uu,ou
tharl Come up hcsh. Tin q r,;aud-rm
Enionr :"
His rifle came 10 his face ii. IN. same in.
slant, and Harry saw tho flame and whit.
smoke puff from it, and tho sickcninr thought
nas'."i into his mind that tho shot was ,i,,x3
at him. and that he would feel tho deadly bali
pierce bis lody. Before he could moro than
formulate this hc heard the bullet p,ss him
vain s,rrcch and strike somewhere with II
plainly sharp slap Turning his head he s,w
tbc leading Confederate stasger and fail
Harry threw his gun up, with tho readiness
Acquired in old hunting days, and fired ut tho
next OF his foes, who also fell. Tn. other
Conle'!eratcs, as they ca,no uu, gathered
around their fallen comrades.
Harry ran back to where the stranger was
as rapidly as the clinsing mud and tho stecn
hillside would permit him,